Solar program enters final week

Updated 10:53 pm, Monday, February 10, 2014

The sun is setting on Solarize Greenwich, but as the Feb. 18 contractual deadline for the solar-power incentive program looms, organizers are scrambling to make the most of the remaining daylight.

With just a week left to go, officials announced Monday that the program will offer the greatest discounts possible, despite falling just short of contracts needed to reach the threshold at which those savings were to kick in. The move, they hope, will attract some of the many residents who have shown interest but have yet to sign a contract.

"We've reached our goal in terms of proposals, but not in terms of signed contracts," said town Conservation Director Denise Savageau. "Now it's just a matter of getting people to sign."

Over the course of its 17 weeks, the program, which encourages homeowners to install solar panels to power their homes by offering leveraged installation rates, has seen 23 contracts signed with Stamford green energy firm Renewable Resources. But while that number seems small, it belies what has been accomplished, said Savageau. Prior to Solarize Greenwich's start in mid-October, the town had only 41 residential solar installations. Since then, enough contracts have been signed to increase the town's residential solar stock by more than 50 percent.

Only nine residents had signed a contract as of the end of November.

Many residents who have consulted with Renewable Resources and received a quote have yet to make a decision on whether to install personal panels -- these "fence-sitters" outnumber signed contracts by more than two to one, said Savageau.

"In terms of the people who responded and received a proposal, we're right where it needs to be," she said. "I don't know if we anticipated the number of people who would still be trying to make the decision. It's a big commitment and we totally understand that, but I'm not sure we thought there'd be as many people not making a choice."

The state-supported program pairs selected municipalities with local solar installers to encourage households to lower energy bills and reduce their carbon footprint by adopting their own individualized solar-energy systems. Participants are eligible for leveraged group discounts -- the more individuals who sign contracts during the program's duration, the cheaper the cost of installation for all. The program is partially overseen by the quasi-public Clean Energy Finance and Investment Authority.

The goal during the lead-up to the 18th, said Savageau, will be to convince undecided residents by appealing to simple economics. The high cost of solar has been the most immediate obstacle to its widespread adoption -- Solarize's discounts can make it more enticing for residents who are unsure whether to go solar now or farther down the road.

Under the current discount level offered through Solarize Greenwich, an average 7 kilowatt system, at a usual market price of more than $33,000, can be reduced to under $28,000. That figure can be reduced further to about $13,000 once an additional CEFIA incentive and federal tax credits kick in. The cost can be financed through Solarize Greenwich.

According to Savageau, a 7kW system can produce more than $38,000 in savings over the 25-year span of the solar panels.

"Five years ago we considered going solar but it was much too expensive," said adopters Stephen and Naomi Myers of Riverside in a Solarize statement. "The situation is very different today."

Residents can still receive a free consultation with Renewable Resources and sign contracts up until Feb. 18, regardless of prior interest.

While adoption will likely fall far short of initial hopes -- organizers had originally wanted as many as 100 contracts to be signed -- Savageau remains optimistic.

"We're hoping to increase our solar stock by 100 percent," she said. "If we get a few more to commit on those contracts, then we're good to go."